Why the Major Disruption?
The 36-day power and traffic block is necessary for the next phase of the Chandigarh railway station's redevelopment. The Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) is overseeing the project, which includes erecting a new through-roof structure and dismantling
the old foot-over-bridge girders. This essential work cannot be completed while the station is fully operational, leading to phased closures of different lines and platforms throughout the period. The project has been divided into three 12-day phases to minimise the overall impact, but extensive changes to train schedules are unavoidable.
Which Trains Are Fully Cancelled?
A total of 12 train services will be fully cancelled for the duration of the block, resulting in the cancellation of 442 individual trips between September 9 and October 16. This will primarily affect passengers on routes connecting Chandigarh with Amritsar, Ferozepur, Kalka, and Delhi. Key services that will not run during this period include the Chandigarh-Amritsar Express (14541/14542) and the Chandigarh-Ferozepur Express (14629/14630). Regular passenger trains like the Ambala-Kalka and Ambala-Jalandhar City services are also among those cancelled, disrupting daily commuter traffic significantly.
Partially Cancelled and Diverted Trains
Many trains that usually pass through or terminate at Chandigarh will be affected differently. Several services will be 'short-terminated' or 'short-originated' at Ambala Cantt. This means trains like the Ajmer-Chandigarh Garib Rath Express and the Rishikesh-Chandigarh Express will end their journey at Ambala, and passengers will need to arrange alternative transport for the final leg to Chandigarh. Furthermore, some long-distance trains will be diverted to bypass Chandigarh entirely, running via Sirhind instead. To ease some of the pressure, eight long-distance trains will be given a temporary stop at Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar (Mohali), which can serve as an alternate station for some travellers.
Changes to Platform and Premium Services
Even for trains that continue to operate, passengers should not assume their regular platforms will be used. During the block, berthing platforms for dozens of trains will change, including for premium services like the Shatabdi Express and Vande Bharat Express. For instance, in the final phase from October 4 to 15, the New Delhi-Kalka Shatabdi Express (12011), which normally uses Platform 1, will be shifted to Platform 5. These changes are necessary to allow work on specific tracks and platforms. Travellers must pay close attention to station announcements and digital display boards to find their train.
What Travellers Must Do Now
Given the scale of these changes, planning ahead is crucial. The most important step for anyone with a booking between September 10 and October 15 is to check the live status of their train before leaving home. This can be done through the official National Train Enquiry System (NTES) app or website, as well as third-party apps. For cancelled trains, Indian Railways provides an automatic full refund for e-tickets. For tickets booked at a counter, you will need to visit a PRS counter to claim the refund. If your train is short-terminated at Ambala or another station, be prepared to arrange for a bus or taxi to complete your journey.
